Tribe Proteeae is one of the most common causes of UTI. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR), which complicates treatment, has been increasingly identified in this tribe worldwide. The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency of PMQR genes among Proteeae isolates. Five PMQR genes [qnrA, qnrB, qnr S, qnrD, and aac(6’)-Ib-cr] were screened bymonoplex PCR. Of the 1132 patients with significant bacteriuria, tribe Proteeae accounted for 75 (6.6%) of the urinary isolates, 72 were identified as Proteus mirabilis, while one as each P. vulgaris, P. penneri,and Morganellamorganii. Forty-two exhibited decreased susceptibility or resistance to nalidixic acid and/or ciprofloxacin. The antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed a high frequency of the resistance to the majority of antibiotics tested. It was found that 14.3%, 9.5%, and 7.1% of the isolates harbored aac(6')-Ib-cr, qnr D and qnrA, respectively either alone or in combination. This study constitutes the first qnr D determinants in Iraq.
